Pocket lighter



Oct. 3l, 1933. l.. F. DoUGLAss POCKET LIGHTER Filed Jan. 4, 1932 Eo/v F Doc/@A4551 BY;

A TTORNEY Patented Oct. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POCKET LIGHTER Y "Leen F. Douglass, Menlo Park, Calif.

Application January 4, 1932. Serial No. 584,601

4 Claims. (Cl. 6'2'-'7.1)`

This invention relates to improvements in pocket lighters of the type adapted for use in lighting cigars or the like.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved 1lighter construotionhaving novel means for actuating the flint engaging vwheel.

Another object or" my invention is to provide kan improved lighter which embodies a construction adapted to protect the flame against extinguishment from moving currents of air.

A further object or my invention is to provide an improved lighter of the portable type having novel means for actuating the wick enclosing cap.

Other objects more or less apparent will present themselves or will be specifically pointed out in the description to follow.

1n the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l' is a vertical sectional view of a pocket lighter constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side View of the upper part of the lighter, showing a part thereof broken away and other parts in cross section;

4 is a sectional view of the lighter taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the flint engaging wheel and the operating means therefor.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 represents a tubular casing having a closed lower end 2 and a partition 3. The closed lower end 2 is provided with a threaded opening within which is screwed a cap 4. The wall oi the casing at points above the partition 3 is provided with a number of holes 5 through which air may pass to support combustion within the upper part of the casing. Secured to the partition 3 is a wick tube 6 which contains a wick 7, the said wick extendlo ing from the inside of the casing to a point above the upper end of the wick tube. The wick receives liquid fuel, such as benzine, located in the casing and delivers the same to the upper end of the said wick where it may be ignited.

Extending from a point at the lower end 2 of the casing to a point adjacent the upper end of the wick tube 6, is a tube 8 having a flint or pyrophoric member 9 projecting from its upper end, and also a coiled spring 10 disposed therein to maintain an upward pressure against the said iiint. The lower end of the coiled spring is provided with a screw 11 which may be manipulated when the cap 4 is removed to adjust the tension of the spring against the int 9.

Rotatably mounted on a pin 12 at a point above the end of the tube 8,'is a flint engaging wheel 13, having its outer surface roughened and in engagement with the int 9. Also movably ymounted on the pin 12 at opposite sides of the flint engaging wheel, are the two ends 14 of a yoke 15, the said yoke being adapted to grasp and carry with it, a closing cap 16 whichis for closing the end of the wick tube 6. Keyed to the side of one ofthe ends 14 of the yoke 15 is a circular gear 17 which meshes with a semi-circular gear 18, the latter being pivotally mounted on a pivot 19. The semi-circular gear 18 is provided with a smooth edge 20 against which an end 21 of a pivoted lever member 22 slidably contacts. The pivoted lever member extends through a slot in the wall of casing and is adapted to be actuated about its pivot by the pressure of the thumb of the operator in a direction toward the casing. A coiled spring 23 secured at one end to the semicircular gear 18 and at its other end to the pin 12, serves to return the gear toits normal position whereby the closing-cap 16 is Yreturned to the end of the wick tube 6 and the lever member 22 is moved to a position in which the lower end is removed from the sideof the casing. In order to actuate the iiint engaging wheel 13 when the lever member is pressed inwardly, I have secured a ratchet 24 to the side of the said wheel and have provided an engaging catch member 25 on the pin 26 which is carried by the yoke 15. A spiral spring 27 encircling the pin 26 and at*- tached at an end thereof to the catch member and its other end to ythe yoke Vtends to press the said catch member toward the ratchet 24. As the gear 17 is rotated by the semi-circular gear 18, throughl the movement of the end 21 of the lever member 22 against the smooth edge of the said semi-circular gear, the catch 25 engages with the ratchet 24 and'rotates the latter and also the flint engaging wheel 13. As the spring 23 returns the yoke 15 to its normal position with the closing cap 16 moving downwardly toward the Wick tube 6, the catch member 25 slides over the teeth of the ratchet 24 without turning the flint Aengaging wheel 13, thereby again becoming positioned to engage with a tooth of the said ratchet. The rotary movement of the iiint engaging wheel 13 against the ilint 9 causes a spark to be produced for igniting the fuel at the end of the wick 7. The ame produced when the fuel is ignited is normally prevented from being extinguished by the protecting walls of the casing 1, and suicient air for supporting the combustion is provided by the holes 5 in the sides of the said casing. The flint engaging wheel 13 is rotated withraccelerated speed by the sliding movement of the end 2l of the lever member against the smooth edge 20 of the semi-circular gear 18, thereby causing a spark to be produced with considerable regularity and accuracy. The closing cap 16 is likewise quickly moved in an upward direction from the end of the Wick 7 by the same mechanism. The present invention provides an economical and efcient construction for pocket lighters and one which isV both positive and certain in operation.

Having described my invention what I claim 1. A pocket lighter comprising a casing having its walls provided with a plurality of air ports adjacent an end thereof, the said end of the casing having an opening therein, a partition extending across the interior of the casing at points beneath the air ports, a Wick tube extending above the partition, a Wick in the tube, a pyro' phoric element projecting above the partition, a friction wheel rotatably mounted with its peripheryv contacting with the pyrophoric element, a closing cap for closing the opening in the end of the casing and also for enclosing the upwardly projecting end of the wick tube, a lever member extending through the side Wall of the casing, and means adapted to be actuated by the lever member for raising the closing cap from the Wick tube and from the opening in the end of the casing and for rotating the friction Wheel.

2. In a pocket lighter a casing having an opening in its upper end, a partition in the casing, a

closing cap for the opening in the casing, a Wick projecting above the partition, a pyrophoric element projecting above the partition, a roughened wheel rotatably mounted in the casing and in engagement with the pyrophoric element, a lever member extending through the wall of the casing, gear means interposed between the lever member and the wheel for rotating the said Wheel when the lever member is manipulated, and meansV actuated by the gear means for raising the closing cap from the opening in the end of the casing.

3. In a pocket lighter, an elongated casing having a wick and a pyrophoric element mounted therein, a closing cap normally enclosing an end of the Wick, a rotatable friction wheel engaging with the said element, means interposed between the Wheel and the closing cap for raising the latter when the Wheel is turned, a pivoted lever member extending through the side wall of the casing from a point outside the casing to a point inside thereof, the part of the said lever member located outside the casing normally extending at an angle to but alongside the casing, and means interposed between the lever member and the Wheel for rotating the latter when the outwardly disposed part of the lever member is pressed to- Ward the casing.

4. A int lighter comprising a casing having a partition therein, a Wick projecting above the partition, a pyrophoric element projecting above the partition at a point adjacent the Wick, a v frictionwheel rotatably mounled in the casing and in engagement with the pyrophoric member, a closing cap for the Wick, a yoke within which the cap is mounted, the said yoke being pivotaily mounted Within the casing, a ratchet secured tota side of the friction Wheel, a catch carried by the yoke for 'engaging with the ratchet, Whereby the friction Wheel may be rotated Whenthe yoke is moved in a certain direction, a gear secured to the yoke, a second gear pivotally mounted to engage with the gear on the yoke, the said second gear being provided with a smooth edge, and a pivoted lever member extending from a point outside the casing to a point inside thereof, the said lever member being mounted to slidably engage with the smooth edge of the second gear and to actuate the latter when moved in a certain direction about its pivot.

LEON F. DOUGLASS. 

